Bow string holder



8" 1960 E. L. HAULK 2,947,301

BOW STRING HOLDER Filed Jan. 14, 1959 INVENTOR.

Elvro L. Haullc BY A T TOENEYS 2,947,301 BOW STRING HOLDER Elvro L.Haulk, 339 Michigan Ave., Mansfield, Ohio Filed Jan. 14, 1959, Ser. No.786,748

8 Claims. (Cl. 124--30) This invention relates to a bow string holderfor bolding a bow string on an archery bow in a neat and orderly fashionwhen the bow is Unstrung.

The holder of the present invention comprises generally a member adaptedto be positioned against one face of a bow and having projectionsarranged to engage opposite edges of the bow to restrain the memberagainst lateral displacement. The member is provided with an elasticloop engageable with an end notch of the bow and is also provided with ahook on which the disengaged end loop of the bow string may be engaged.The parts are so dimensioned that the elastic loop holds the bow stringunder slight tension whereby it is maintained fairly taut against therelaxed bow and is prevented from becoming lost or entangled. The bowstring holder of the present invention is preferably provided with atleast an outer surface comprising a relatively soft material-whereby itwill not mar or scratch the finish on abow.

When the bow is to be put into use, the bow string is unhooked from theholder and the holder is completely removed from the bow whereupon thebow string may be engaged in the end notch of the stressed bow, ready.

for use, The bow string holder, therefore, does not constitute animpediment during use of the bow but is completely removed therefrom.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a bow stringholder for holding a bow string under slight tension and neatly againstthe bow when the latter is unstrung.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bow string holder of thetype set forth that is completely re movable from the bow and does notinvolve special bow construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bow string holderreadily adapted for use with bows of any width.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bow string holderengageable with the bow but of such construction as to not mar thefinish thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bow stringholder as described but which is simple and economical inconstructionfyet efiicient and reliable in operation.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilledin the art as the description proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates, in full lines, an Unstrung bow with the bow stringholder of the present invention in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of a portion of the upper end of Fig. l asviewed from the right side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bow string holder of the presentinvention separated from the how;

f at-exited Aug. 21, 1960 ice Fig. 5 is an exploded perspectiveview of amodified form of how string holder;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front view of the holder of Fig. 5 shown in usewith a bow; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line7--7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 1 shows an archery bow 2 having the usual end notches i and a bowstring 6 provided with end loops 8 engageable in the end notches 4 ofthe bow when the bow is strung, as shown in dotted lines. When not inuse it is desirable that the bow 2 be relieved of stresses bydisengaging at least one end loop 8 of the string 6 from its end notch4. When the bow is thus unstrung it assumes generally the position shownin full lines in Fig. l and it is desirable that the string 6 be held insome manner so that it does not become completely disengaged from thebow and lost or entangled with itself or other objects. To accomplishthis end the bow string 6 is held in a neat, orderly fashion against thebow 2 by a bow string holder designated generally by numeral 10 in Fig.l. The bow string holder 10 comprises a member 12 positioned against aface of the bow and pro vided with an elastic loop 14 engageable in theend notch 4 from which the string 6 was removed. The member 12 isfurther provided with an open hook 16 on which the disengaged end loop 8of bow string 6 is engaged. The parts are so dimensioned that the loop14 holds the bow string 6 under slight tension to assure its retentionsnugly against the bow, as shown.

Obviously when it is desired to use the bow, the holder 10 may becompletely disengaged from both the string 6 and the bow 2 whereupon thebow string may be rearms 18 and a lowermost end of the arm engaged withnotch 4 to stress the bow and render the same ready for use as shown indotted lines inFig. 1.

In the form of the invention shown in detail in Figs. 1 through 4, themember 12 comprises a pair of crossed '20. The arm 20 is provided at itsends with transverse projections 22 spaced apart such a distance thatthey loosely engage opposite side edges of the 1 bow 2 whereupon themember 12 may slide freely along the bow 2 but is restrained againstlateral displacement thereon. The elastic loop 14 passes through and isheld by an eyelet or loop 24 at the upper end of arm 18. The elasticloop 14 may be a rubber band of suitable dimension or may be any otherelastically stretchable material, such as a fabric-covered resilientfilament of any kind. Preferably the loop 14 is provided with a clip 26intermediate its ends to define a small loop at the upper end thereofengageable with notch 4 and whereby the elastic loop will not slipdownwardly along the bow. The hook 16 previously referred to, is formedat the 18 substantially directly opposite the loop 24. but could be inthe sired. If formed as a hook, the mouth should be sufficientlyrestricted so that elastic loop 14 could not slide freely therethrough.

As shown in Fig. 3, the arms 18 and 20 of the member 12 may be formed ofcore material comprising metal rods or wires 28 and the member 20 may becovered in its entirety with a layer of soft plastic or the likematerial 30. The rods or wires 28 may be welded or soldered together orthey may be held in the described relationship solely by the coveringmaterial. 30. While it is preferred that the member 12 be provided witha soft surface whereby the finish of the bow 2 will not be marred orscratched, the provision of such .a coating or soft surface is not anessential or critical feature of the invention.

Fig. 3 also shows retaining hooks 31 formed at the ends of lateralprojections 22 for holding the member 10 against inadvertent outwarddisplacement. The hooks 31 Loop 24 is shown completely closed. form of anearly-closed hook, if de may befQrmed from the material 30, as shown,or the rod 28 may be also bent to the hook shape. The hooks 31 may alsobe provided when the holder is made of a single material or in the,form, of Fig. 5, to be described. The hooks 31 may be short, as shown,so that they may be snapped over the edges of the bow 2 or they may belonger, and even rigid, whereupon the holder'may he slipped over theendof the bow.

Figs. through 7.illustrate a modified form of the invention. In this.form a transverse tubular member 32 is of a length sufiicient to spanthe widest bowiwith which it is likely to. be. used. The tubular member32 is preferablyof plastic material although it may be of any materialthat-can be. readily severed or cut to the desired length. Intermediateits .enclsthe member 32 is provided, on one side, with a loop portion 34(shown as a nearlyclosed. hook) adapted to engage and retain the elasticloop 14 therein. Directly oppositethe loop portion 34 is a hook member3:6 adapted-to engage and hold the end loop 8 of the bow string 6, asdescribed in connection with Figs. 1- through '4. The elements 34 and 36may be of plastic or any other suitable material cemented to themember-32, or fastened thereto in any other suitable manner. It.desired, they may be initially formed integral with member 32 or as.theends of a single bar.

End elements 330i any suitable material are each formed to a generally Lshape. Each of the end elements 38 is provided with a leg 40,complementary in sectional shape to. the interior 42 of the tubularmember 32 and telescopically receivable therein. The other legs 44 ofthe .end elements 38 extend transversely of the legs and member-3'2, asshown. To render the modification of Fig. '5 ready for use, the usercuts the ends of tubular member 32 so that the member is of a lengthsubstantially equal. to the transverse width of the bow with which theholder is to be used. Thereafter the legs 40 of end elements 38 areinserted in the ends of the tubular member 32. and cemented or otherwisesecured therein. The transverse portions or projections 44 thereuponbecome the retaining means for engaging the edges of the bow, asdescribed in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, and the holder is ready foruse. Figs. 6 and 7 show the holder of Pig. 5 after it has been cut tosize and assembled by the use of cement 46 or the like.

While a limited number of specific embodiments of the invention havebeen shown and described herein, it is to be understood that other formsand modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A How string holder for retaining a bow string in position along abow when the bowls Unstrung, comprising; a member adapted to extendtransversely across a bow and having projections at its ends extendinglaterally of said member for engaging opposite edges of the bow to holdsaid member against transverse displacement relative to said how, anelastic loop secured to said member for removably engaging the end notchof a bow, and hook means secured to said member for removably receiving-the endloop of the bow string.

2. A bow string holder as defined, in claim 1 including holding means onsaid member for holding said elastic loop, said holding means and saidhook means being mounted on said member substantially midway betweensaid projections.

3. A bow string holder as defined in claim 2 wherein said holding meansand said hook means extend in opposite directions from said member.

4. A bow string holder for retaining a bow string in position along ahow when the'bow is unstrung, comprising; a pair of armssecured-together.incrossedrelation, the ends of one of said armscomprising lateral projections for engaging opposite edges ofthe bow,the ends of the other arm being formed, respectively, as holding meansfor an elastic loop and as a hook for an end of the bow string, and anelastic loop held by said holding means.

5. A bow string holder as defined in claim 4 wherein said arms comprisemetal rods and wherein said entire holder is covered with a layer ofsoft plastic material.

6. A bow string holder for retaining a bow string in position along abow when the bow is unstrung, compris ing; a member adapted to extendtransversely across a bow and including an open-ended tubular member ofseverable material, holding means for an elastic loop secured to saidmember on one sidethereof and substantially midway between the-endsthereof, an elastic loop held by said holding means, a bow string hooksecured to said member opposite said holding means, and

a pair of end elements of generally L-shape, each having prising; amember adapted to extend transversely across a bow and including anopen-ended tubular member of severable material, holding means for anelastic loop secured to said member on one side thereof andsubstantially midway between the ends thereof, an elastic loop held bysaid holding means, a bow string hook secured to said member oppositesaid holding means, and a. pairof end elements of generally L-shape,each having one leg extending into and adhesively secured in an end ofsaid member, the other legs of said end elements extending transverselyof said member and adapted to engage opposite edges of the bow. v

8. A bow string holder as defined in claim 1. wherein said lateralprojections are mounted on said member, for adjustment toward and awayfrom each otherwhereby to adapt said holder to bows of different width.

References Citedin; the tile of this, patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

